To start, check out the candelabra. The wrought iron material and simple design mesh well with the casual country feeling in the room. With a rustic table like this, no need for a tablecloth. But adding the simple denim napkin under the serving pieces adds a touch of warmth to the display while protecting the serving items.

Colors in this room are echoed on the buffet – in the bowls, plates and napkins. Blue provides the dominant color, and the secondary colors come in throughout the buffet and even the food.

From a functional standpoint, it would be easier for guests to serve themselves if the napkins and silverware were set up separately from the plates. Forks can go vertical in a glass or pitcher. Napkins set in a basket would contribute to the rustic feel while making the buffet easier to maneuver. However, overall the display works well for the room and the mood of the dinner party, and adding these simple design touches were the work of a few moments.

Fresh flowers provide an easy and effective first step. Placed strategically around your home, flowers create a mood and a design theme.

These days adding fresh flowers cost less than the appetizers. Your local grocery or warehouse store offers a great selection at reasonable prices. Pick up one or two bouquets with the same flowers and colors – or even the same type of flower for a consistent look.

Many people get nervous about arranging flowers, but if you stay simple you can create a design-rich arrangement with nice lines in a few minutes. Let the flowers help you decide on your approach. Try different vase shapes and sizes and don’t be afraid to trim stems if you need to. This arrangement is both simple and cost effective. A couple of long stems added to a vase with oranges to hold them in place and you’re done.

Place flowers on the main table, a few side tables, and in the guest bathroom to create a sense of welcome for your guests and help turn your party into a well-designed event.

The August 28th anniversary event will commemorate the process of bringing families home to the Lower 9th Ward, one of the areas most devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In keeping with the foundation’s Cradle to Cradle design philosophy, Shaw has provided carpet featuring fully recyclable, Cradle to Cradle Silver certified Anso® nylon fiber for the first 50 homes, and is committed to providing carpet for all of the planned 150 homes.

As one of the earliest supporters of the Make It Right Foundation, Shaw’s contributions have played a vital role in the process of building affordable green homes for Lower 9th Ward residents, according to Make It Right Director of Development & Government Relations Steve Ragan. “Shaw and Make It Right share a fundamental commitment to Cradle to Cradle design and to sustainable construction. Shaw’s fully recyclable, environmentally responsible flooring products are a natural fit for the Make It Right homes.”

“We are proud to work with Make It Right to help make a difference in the lives of some of the many residents of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina,” said David Wilkerson, Director of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs for Shaw’s residential division. “In addition to providing new, affordable homes for residents of the Lower 9th Ward, Make It Right also demonstrates the social, environmental and economic benefits of sustainable housing in a model that could potentially be replicated around the world.”

The Make It Right Cradle to Cradle design philosophy and its commitment to making green housing affordable is also in keeping with Shaw’s own commitment to Sustainability through Innovation – the Shaw Green Edge, Wilkerson noted. “Whether it’s pushing the boundaries of what affordable housing design, or creating flooring products that can be recycled back into themselves time and time again, we believe innovation is the true key to sustainability,” he said.

The 5th Anniversary Celebration will feature of “A Night of Treme,” a benefit show featuring the artists and music from the highly-acclaimed HBO series Treme. House of Blues in New Orleans will host the concert on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Saturday, August 28th, and Make It Right will also a host a Community Celebration Event that same day.

Brad Pitt, Make It Right’s founder, hopes that this project will be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the City of New Orleans. Make It Right is committed to building sustainable and affordable homes, incorporating high-quality design and construction while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. Make It Right provides a potential model for other communities of its kind throughout the nation.

Shaw will provide the company’s stylish, recyclable Type 6 Anso nylon, for all 150 Make It Right homes. All Shaw carpets made of Type 6 nylon can be recycled back into new carpet repeatedly in a Cradle to Cradle, or Carpet to Carpet™, model at the company’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility in Augusta, Ga.

For more information on the Make It Right Foundation, please visit www.MakeItRightnola.org. For more information on Shaw’s sustainability efforts, visit www.shawfloors.com/recycle.

(This article was found on TalkFloor.com)

Mohawk’s strand woven styles have been tested to be twice as hard as domestic oak.  The Mohawk products are manufactured using all parts of the bamboo stalk for optimum green benefits, and they meet European E-1 Standards for low formaldehyde emissions.  They can also contribute LEED points to an installation.

“Bamboo regenerates naturally, and can be harvested every five to seven years,” said Roger Farabee, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Mohawk.  “That makes it a LEED recognized rapidly renewable resource.  But the softness of traditional bamboo has been a limitation.  Mohawk’s new strand woven bamboo is sturdy enough to allow the species to be used in both residential and commercial applications.”

Mohawk is introducing two new bamboo lines, Hilea in its Rarity Collection and Kahala in the Artiquity Collection.

Both bamboo lines will be available with Mohawk’s popular Uniclic® glueless installation system.   This patented method allows for fast, easy angled or sliding installation on the sides of the plank. Even when space is tight, Uniclic will ensure a secure locking action. End joints feature a drop-lock that allows for an easy install.

Hilea offers environmentally friendly strand bamboo in natural and baked natural. Natural features Uniclic technology for easy, glueless installation. Baked natural also features Uniclic, but also is available with tongue and groove joints for nail or glue-down installation. Both feature a 25-year residential warranty and a 3-year medium commercial warranty.  The product is either 3 ¾” wide (tongue and groove styles) or nominal 5” wide (Uniclic styles).

The Kahala line features unique handscraped visuals in an elegant nominal 5-inch plank width, showcasing bamboo’s new design options.  Kahala features the Uniclic locking system of installation and has a 25-year residential warranty and a 3-year medium commercial warranty.  Products come in five colors: Chestnut, Rustic Baked Natural, Light Ebony, Warm Cherry, and Warm Chocolate.

“This creates entirely new styling options and applications with bamboo,” Farabee said.  “Bamboo now has fresh looks, new uses, and a powerful green story.  Strand woven bamboo is having a major impact on this category.”

Strand woven bamboo’s sustainability and environmental benefits are another step in Mohawk’s GreenWorks, Mohawk’s umbrella program for environmental and sustainable initiatives.  Mohawk is the leader in recycled and renewable flooring, and one of the largest recyclers in the flooring industry.  Mohawk’s goal is to develop processes and products that allow the company to focus on the five “Rs” of the GreenWorks platform:  reduce, recover, reuse, renew, and recycle.  Strand woven bamboo reduces waste and utilizes a rapidly renewable resource.  Learn more about Mohawk Greenworks at www.mohawkgreenworks.com.

“Bedrooms come in all shapes and sizes, so how do you create your own perfect sanctuary?  One idea is simply to combine a modest headboard with low profile night tables and a soothing color palette to create a peaceful master retreat.  Coordinating wallpapers can be mixed to create distinct, subtlety private spaces within the same room.  This design reflects a gentle beauty and style that is calming and serene, especially in a bedroom, and offers just the right hint of elegance.”

Rose Trail from Bainbridge FB90602, Fairwinds Studio, Wallquest

Suggested Retail: $49.99 per single roll

www.blonderwall.com or call 1-800-321-4070

Suggested Coordinates, Rose Trail from Bainbridge FB90902 & FB91702

“I love a bedroom to be romantic, traditional. This paper has a charming English appeal, formal but not stuffy.  Luxuriant blossoms create the illusion of a country garden, but with a touch of whimsy.  The rich colors and blooms are pure romance.”

Cape Cod, Flower Bunch #73212, Pelican Prints, Wallquest

Suggested Retail: $45.90 per single roll

www.wallquest.com or call 1-888-425-WALL

“The romance and beauty of Provence radiates from this Toile wall covering.   The soul of this Country French style lies in its grace and simple elegance.  While charming and romantic, this black-and-white design is a classic, and appeals to both masculine and feminine sensibilities, making it an ideal selection for a master bedroom.”

Cottage Prints from Wallquest, #VC50900, Blonder Home

Suggested Retail: $39.99 per single roll

www.blonderwall.com or call 1-800-321-4070

These papers all are designed as Eco Chic™ by Wallquest. The process begins with carefully selected paper from suppliers who use only pulp from well-managed, renewable resource forests and recycled sources. The production process relies solely on solvent-free, water based inks. Any water used during production is professionally filtered and cleaned before it is returned to the environment.  “When you select a design printed on Wallquest’s Eco Chic™ wallpapers you can be confident that each of these steps is taken with the utmost concern for the sustainability of our natural resources,” said Robinson.

About Carl Robinson:

Carl Robinson was born to a prominent designer in England, and his father’s father was a noted designer as well. He began his career working for his father then worked at Burlington Wallcoverings and also Graham & Brown in England. By 2000, he was serving as a consultant for Wallquest, Inc., whose brands include Pelican Prints, Fairwinds Studios, Sandpiper Studios and Printers Guild Productions. In 2003, Robinson joined the Wallquest team on a full-time basis and today is the company’s Design Director, the culmination of 25 years of experience designing and manufacturing wallpaper.

About Wallquest:

Family owned and operated, with three manufacturing plants in the United States, Wallquest is one of the largest and most innovative wall covering manufacturers in the world.  The heritage of Wallquest goes back to the 1820’s. Its staff of talented artists creates distinctive collections by staying current with trends as well as drawing on its rich heritage of style and cultural themes.  Today its products are sold in more than 40 countries.

To view these and other collections, visit www.wallquest.com, or call 1-888-425-WALL.

Crossville has enhanced its popular Empire Porcelain Stone® line, which echoes the grandeur of 19th-century France with the look and feel of natural marble.  Empire now boasts 20% SCS-certified recycled content, has an updated color palette (including a stunning new Alabaster white), and is offered in a range of sizes and shapes, from newly designed mosaics to 21″ x 21″ large format to popular plank shapes. A choice of polished and unpolished finishes increases Empire’s versatility.

Designed by renowned color forecaster, Barbara Schirmeister, ASID, DC, CAUS, for both commercial and residential installations, Empire’s performance is legendary – because it is Porcelain Stone®, it has unsurpassed durability, resists staining and scratching and will remain virtually maintenance free on floors, countertops and walls.  Now, with the addition of 20% recycled content, not only the beauty of Empire will last a lifetime, so will its environmental legacy.

Godfrey Hirst Carpets USA, a Wools of New Zealand partner, is expanding its line of wool carpets with Santorini, a two-tone tufted loop pile style that carries the Wools of New Zealand brand for assured quality and performance. Introduced at Surfaces 2010, Santorini samples are now shipping to retailers across the country in time for the fall selling season.

A clean and crisp pattern, Santorini is given extra depth, uniqueness and versatility through the use of a solid yarn in combination with a stippled yarn, according Laurie Bray, Marketing Manager for Godfrey Hirst. Ten neutral colorways in earthtone combinations help form the nubby styles of this product offering.

Developed for residential environments, this classic berber is 12’ wide, in a 36 oz. construction that will provide functional luxury and understated fashion on residential floors and stairs.

For Atlanta-based Myers Carpet, Santorini is a welcome addition to its offering of Godfrey Hirst products, according to Chris Fonville. “Godfrey Hirst has been a great supplier for at least ten years,” Fonville says. “Santorini offers us an opportunity to sell our customers a good quality wool carpet in a great looking wool classic berber at a price that will certainly be welcomed by both the consumer and our sales staff.”

Myers Carpet has been in business for 50 years and in Atlanta for 24. Fonville adds, “We consider ourselves to be leaders in the southeast in natural fiber carpet. Branded Wools of New Zealand products give us a story to tell our customers, not only about the quality of the wool but also about the testing that guarantees performance. We explain the difference between Wools of New Zealand branded carpet and unbranded wool carpet. It’s important to us.”

For further information, please contact Godfrey Hirst Carpets at 800-480-7134 or visit their website at: www.godfreyhirstusa.com. If in Canada the website is: www.godfreyhirstcanada.com.

Calling all designers!! A loyal From the Floors Up reader is in need of some advice and I thought it would be fun to give her different perspectives and opinions. Please read below to learn more about her project.

Some information about the house and style of the kitchen:

House is from the 1870s, more a farmhouse style than ornate Victorian. Floors throughout 1st floor are all original heart pine, except the sunroom off the kitchen which is a marmoleum click checkerboard. There is an unfinished basement below most of the kitchen, the rest (by the sink) used to be an outdoor porch (therefore we can not reuse the original wood). We would like some form of radiant in-floor heat as currently the room is unheated, but are unsure whether to go with staple-up hydronic or electric mats as sometime in the next few years we want to update the whole home heating system (either to electric heat pump/AC or geothermal). We have three growing boys and a dog and need a  kitchen floor that will hold up to them and last a LONG time. I believe the square footage of the kitchen/laundry is approximately 350.

The kitchen will have sort of an unfitted look, with a separate hutch, separate pantry cupboard, and only two upper cabinets on either side of the sink window. As mentioned previously, the lower cabinets will be off-white; the double oven cabinet, two uppers, and hutch will be blue; and the hood, refrigerator panels, and pantry will be green. So all 3 colors have to look good next to the floor. There is also an antique exposed brick chimney that runs floor to ceiling.

As you can see, our backsplash is kind of a statement piece, and while the soapstone sample is quiet, we are hoping the slab we ultimately choose will have a more dramatic veining. All of this makes us think we need a “quiet” floor but maybe we are wrong?

Our reader has gotten a couple of opinions from other designers with blogs, but I am curious to see what other opinions we can offer her! Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated as this is just a fun exercise in opinions and perspectives! She has already shared with me that she is considering cork as well as ceramic hexagon mosaics, but don’t let that sway your answers! If you would like to see photos of the samples of other items she has chosen, please email me at shannon@dcspg.com and I will forward them to you.

Thanks!